How can I validate the keyword list our agency provided?

To validate the keyword list your agency provided, assess its relevance to your target audience, search volume, and competition. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush to cross-check data. Ensure the keywords align with your business goals and the search intent of your potential customers.

Why Keyword Validation Matters

Think of keywords as the signposts guiding potential customers to your website. If they’re off, you might as well be leading them on a wild goose chase. A well-curated keyword list is the backbone of any successful SEO strategy. It ensures your content reaches the right audience and, ultimately, helps you achieve your business objectives.

Imagine you’re running a B2B SaaS company offering project management software. Your agency hands you a list filled with keywords like “best project management tools” and “project management software for teams”. At first glance, these seem spot-on. However, without validation, you might miss critical nuances, like regional search trends or specific industry jargon, which could make all the difference.

Steps to Validate Your Keywords

Validating your keyword list isn’t rocket science, but it does require a bit of due diligence. Here’s how you can do it:

• Check Search Volume: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to see how often people search for each keyword. High search volume indicates demand.

• Analyse Competition: Tools like SEMrush can show you how competitive a keyword is. High competition might mean it’s harder to rank for.

• Evaluate Relevance: Ensure each keyword aligns with your business goals. Ask yourself if someone searching this term would be interested in your product or service.

• Consider Search Intent: Determine if the keyword matches the intent behind the search. Is the user looking to buy, learn, or compare?

• Test and Adjust: Implement a few keywords and monitor their performance. Be ready to tweak your list based on what works and what doesn’t.

After going through these steps, you should have a clearer picture of which keywords are worth pursuing. Remember, a keyword list is not set in stone. It’s a living document that should evolve as your business and the market change.

The Art of Keyword Selection

Here’s the thing. Keywords are more than just words. They’re the bridge between what people are searching for and what you offer. Getting them right is an art.

Don’t just rely on your agency to do all the heavy lifting. Engage with a search engine optimisation expert who understands your industry nuances. Someone who can fine-tune your strategy to get better rankings. After all, the best SEO agency will tailor its approach to your specific needs, not just hand you a cookie-cutter list.

So, grab that coffee, sit down with your team, and get cracking on validating that keyword list. It’s worth the effort. Trust me.